Make your PC defensive

POSTED: March 9, 2013 2:00 a.m. Computer Care: Keep your PC protected from bad bugs

Computer Care: Keep your PC protected from bad bugs By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com POSTED: March 9, 2013 2:00 a.m. Too many computers that I’ve worked on recently have had insufficient protection. Some had anti-virus apps or Internet security suites installed, but they were not properly configured. Some were so outdated they were completely ineffective. Your system needs a good defense. This means programs that will have your back and warn you when rogue programs or websites are attempting to infiltrate your computer. If you have an anti-virus alone, then I suggest you supplement it with a utility like Malwarebytes, Advanced System Care, SuperAntispyware or Malware Fighter. You can have as many of those installed on your system as you like but only one anti-virus app. In that case, more is not better. If your system has an Internet Security Suite, you’re all set. Many times, though, it will tell you that there is a conflict with a utility already on your system and ask you to remove it. Whatever you use, be sure you always have the latest version and that it updates its virus and malware definitions regularly, usually daily. The app needs to be configured past the default settings. Make sure it scans what you want it to, not just your “C” drive. If you have a partition or use external drives regularly, have them scan them as well. Be sure to set up a schedule in the settings area. If you are online every day, you should have your system scanned daily. If you don’t, it’s not a matter of if you will get an infection but when. There are plenty of free products to download. Avast, Avira, AVG, Panda and others all have free and paid versions. The latter includes support. Vipre is also a good choice and although it lacks a free version, it does offer a free trial, as do most. In most malware apps, there are no schedulers on the freebies, one reason alone to get the paid version. While you are downloading, be careful as I mentioned in previous columns. You may not get a malware infection from a reputable website, but you can still get bloatware or junkware, call it what you will. If you don’t scrutinize each box that is checked, you may end up with add-ons you didn’t ask for like a screensaver, pop-up, toolbar or some other freebie that will slow down your system. Do take note to the many offers of security for your smartphone, though, while you are downloading. Most are free. The next wave of infections will not be on your computer but on your phone, so get ready. All of the major players have these to offer. Even with the best protection, it is still possible to get an infection on your computer. The reprobate-geek on your block may have just written a virus and sent it to the Web to be spread around. Before Avast, Norton, McAfee and the rest of them get a chance write a defense against the infection, you can get it. Sometimes you simply fall through the cracks of the Internet. All you can do is be as best prepared as possible and when that fails, get rid of the infection after the fact. Although it is best to be proactive, sometimes you just have to play the cards you were dealt. Windows has built-in tools like System Restore and Safe Mode that will let you fix issues with the operating system. System Restore is like a time machine. It allows you to set the system to run as it did in the past, when it functioned properly. Safe Mode loads only the essential components of the operating system, allowing you to probe and repair without a bunch of superfluous apps running in the background. The Internet itself is my favorite tool. When I don’t know how to fix something, I Google it. There are many articles, forums and YouTube videos to help with just about anything. Someone, somewhere, has had the same issue that you are experiencing and there is assistance on the Internet concerning it. The only time I suggest you don’t try to fix your computer yourself is when you get a “Fatal Error.” They manifest themselves as “Blue Screens Of Death.” When you see a blue screen with “Fatal Error” on it that is accompanied by a STOP code, a series of numbers, it’s time to throw in the towel. Often, the more you mess with it, the worse it gets. So just walk away from this one. This is the worse-case scenario, when your head starts pounding and your eyes begin to bleed. This is when you call someone and pay them to fix the computer. Sometimes it’s just worth it. You wouldn’t try to fix a crown in your mouth or the transmission in your car. You call a professional. With a BSOD, that’s what you need to do. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Computer Downloads: Caveat Emptor

Computer Care: Even safe downloading sites should be approached with caution

By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com

POSTED: February 9, 2013 1:00 a.m.

	There are good places to go on the Internet for downloads and there are not-so-good places. Often when you think you are navigating to a certain website, you end up somewhere else, possibly on a rogue site. You have been redirected. This redirection can be initiated from malware that has infiltrated your system or it can be that you were duped into clicking an online link that was similar to your destination. The similarity could be in the site spelling or it could be a different suffix. You may have wanted a .com and ended up at a .biz instead. Alternatively, you may have clicked on an ad in your search results, rather than on a bona fide hit. I never thought too much about being redirected. Hey, I am careful. No, not me. I always watch what I click on. Alas, even your local tech writer was taken in by a recent installation of AVG. After clicking on "Decline" various times during the installation of the anti-virus program, I assumed I'd dodged the optional toolbars offered by AVG. Most of those attach themselves to Internet Explorer and since I use Google's Chrome, I wasn't immediately aware they were in fact clandestinely installed, without my knowledge (or permission). It was only after careful scrutiny, when I ran the free utility AdwCleaner, that I realized the registry had been altered and there were components added to my system that I neither requested nor desired. AdwCleaner is a good utility, but it, like Combofix, another good free malware cleaner, requires interaction on the part of the user. If you are not comfortable making decisions about what should or should not be deleted, get outside help from a tech-savvy friend or perhaps find different utilities to clean your system. Although technically I wasn't redirected to another site, I was still redirected to install a rogue application. Only recently have I been made aware of similar tactics on a site I've sent you, my readers to, many times in the past. Download.com, the large computer information site run by CNET, has fallen to letting malware attach itself to some of its downloads. It was usually safer to go to an author's site and download an application from its origin, but now they refer you to websites that are clearinghouses for downloadable programs and allow garbage to be piggy-backed onto their apps, for a price. Program authors and websites subsidize their (free) offerings by allowing these installers to be attached to their programs. They earn a fee each time one is downloaded. I've said this before, but allow me to reiterate: There are no free programs. In the past, I have encouraged my clients and readers to use download.com. Now all I can say is, caveat emptor. You are on your own guys. Be careful out there. MajorGeeks.com, is another site that offers downloads and computing advice. BleepingCompter.com is good for help, but has no programs. Be ever-vigilant while installing anything. Run a scan daily, and always after you install something to your computer. A virus checker looks mostly for viruses. It's best to (carefully) install one or more anti-malware utilities as well. You can only have one anti-virus app installed. More is not better in this case. You can however, use multiple anti-malware programs. Many work well in conjunction with one another since they either work differently or seek out different types of malware. By definition, malware is simply bad software. This encompasses adware, spyware, pop-ups, toolbars, hijackers, keyloggers, Trojans or anything else that you didn't ask to be put on your system. Aside from the apps I mentioned above, I recommend Malwarebytes (see malwarebytes.org). Even the free version is great, but for a few bucks, the paid version has a scheduler and is well worth the small investment. This, by the way, is a clean installation. They only try to get you to try the Pro version, but you can decline it. Nothing else is added. SuperAntiSpyware, with its superhero name, is a also good program. Again, they offer free and paid versions. Just remember, sometimes certain utilities ask you how you want to respond to an issue. If you are unsure, leave it alone. A change to the Windows registry cannot be undone. If you don't know what you are doing, my best advice is to refer to a professional. We techs have fixed more computers that users have attempted to repair on their own. Whether you click a link, install an application or sign up for a newsletter or sweepstakes, you are susceptible to malware installation on your computer. Watch what you agree to and what boxes are checked before you click, "Next." Then run a few scans just for good measure. Run updated, full scans daily for viruses and malware. Remember, if you only have a virus checker, download a good malware utility or two. Be careful even downloading it. Nothing is sacred anymore. I hate to say you can't trust anyone anymore — but you can't. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Free Programs Often Come at a Cost

Computer Care: Beware of what you install with free programs

	By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com

	POSTED: November 2, 2012 11:59 p.m.

	Free programs are great and the Internet is full of them. The problem is that many of these so-called freebies come with a price called malware that piggyback the application or utility you are trying to download. I’ve talked about this in the past, but so many computers I’ve seen contain, for lack of a better term “self-installed malware,” that I thought this to be an important issue. Even if those secondary rogue programs appear to be enticing, they are applications that you didn’t ask for or want. This is a big caveat emptor. They can end up being either trialware or, worse, not legitimate programs at all. Let’s say for moment that those additional apps are real. They will either eventually expire, leaving remnants of a program and nagging pop-ups to purchase it or it will warn you of existing system errors, real or otherwise, that will require the app to be purchased to complete repairs. Many of these buddy apps will last only a week or a month before requiring a purchase. Initially you are led to believe they are full programs; most often, they are not. After you’ve realized that your system has been compromised, you’ll need to deal with removing the program. That’s usually not as simple as it sounds. Even when installing the legitimate free program, caution is both paramount and essential. Each box you check and agree to has important information that needs to be read and understood. I’m not talking about the never-ending End User Licensing Agreement. I mean the pages that require you to check a box and click “OK” or “Next” to install it after the download is complete. Often you inadvertently agree to have additional components installed or allow changes to be made to your system. These include toolbars or extensions (plug-ins) to your browser or gadgets to your desktop. Yes, this is where they come from. You put them there. You may also give permission to alter your browser’s home page or choice of search engines. During installation you are asked to agree to have the program installed and where it is placed on your system (usually your C:/program files folder). But read the fine print. Be careful what you agree to. Scrutinize the instructions before you hit “Next.” You can (and should) say “Decline” when asked to agree to these rogue apps or toolbars. Only agree to what you must to install the application at hand. The installation of those other programs is what pays for your free programs. You may come across a “free” utility that will claim to update your system’s device drivers. Most will scan your system and find a dozen or so drivers that require updating. Here’s the caveat: You need to purchase it to get the new drivers. The same goes registry cleaners. You install a utility you downloaded and let it scan your system, only to find out it will again cost you to effect repairs. Recently I was online to download and install a new version CCleaner, a good, free junk cleaner on my system. At the very top of the page was a button conveniently placed that said, “Start Download.” That was very handy except for the fact that the button was for a registry cleaner, not CCleaner. Again, this is how the folks at Cleaner (and others) can offer their wares for free, by selling space on their page to others. The product is good, but the practice is deceptive and they hope you fall for it. So when looking for that download button, be careful not to initiate a download of another application inadvertently. Now there are also full versions of CCleaner and other programs that are offered for free. They are the enhanced versions of the free ones, usually with more bells and whistles and thus supplementary capabilities. If the free version is legitimate, the real one will be better, so don’t be afraid to purchase it. This brings us the difference between an upgrade and an update. An update is adding new components to the existing program. It’s a good idea to keep an application updated. It’s free and usually quick. An upgrade on the other hand is a newer program and it will cost you. If you update your free antivirus app, you are adding new virus definition to the database. This is good. But if you upgrade it, you are replacing the free version with one that costs money — your choice. Even when downloading a free antivirus program, they will still try to trick you into installing their full, paid version. Initially it will be free, but that will generally last only a month, so be careful. Never respond to a pop-up that appears on your screen unexpectedly and suddenly. Read carefully what each page says before you click “Next” and agree to have an app installed. The integrity of your system depends upon it. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Malware and your computer

Computer Care: Don’t let malware steal your PC

	By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com

POSTED: August 25, 2012 1:00 a.m.

	Back in the day, a simple scan of your computer’s hard drive was enough to thwart off most infections. Unfortunately, that’s not the case anymore. Malware has evolved. It’s not just random pop-ups as it used to be. There are now intimidating names such as rootkits, zero-day threats, keyloggers, redirects, drive-by downloads and phishing attacks. Good old adware and spyware are still around, too, though, not to worry. Malware has gotten smarter. Those drive-by downloads are becoming ever-popular. Old-school advice to be careful what you click on doesn’t hold as true as it used to. You don’t always have to download or even click on something now to get infected. Often, by the time you open a web page or an email, you could be infected. Malware has become more elusive. In HTML email messages or on certain web pages, tiny pixel-sized code can hide in frames within frames making it often impossible to detect. It’s not only us that can’t see it. Many security apps have trouble seeing it as well. Drive-by downloads exploit your browser’s vulnerabilities and computer’s low security settings to find their way onto your system. Keeping your applications, browser, security software and operating system updated is the best defense. Most computer users don’t, and those who prey on your system hope just that. By definition, malware is bad software. It is programs, applications, utilities, anything that runs on your system without your knowledge or permission. It’s all bad stuff and often difficult to remove. In the past few months, I have removed very few bona fide viruses from clients’ computers. It’s been various forms of malware that has been keeping me busy. I have encountered fake antivirus infections, intimidating FBI warnings, false registry error notices and bogus programs that claim to speed up your system. Most will only remove money from your wallet, nothing else. Having the proper utilities installed is also important. But allow me a moment here. I recently encountered a client with massive infections on her system who claimed to have protection. She did. The trouble was it never set to scan. Once you get a security app, be sure it is configured properly. Set it to scan at a time when the computer is on, but when you are not using it. Be advised that if you have an antivirus app, your system will be protected against just viruses. Most of those programs don’t look for malware. Better protection is an all-encompassing Internet security suite that will look for just about everything. You may have to shell out a few bucks, as most free versions either look for viruses only or don’t have real-time protection. Some also lack a scheduler. If you must stick to the freebies, supplement your protection with addition utilities. Malwarebytes or WinPatrol are two good utilities (there are others), but they have their limitations. The paid version scans in real time. That means each website or file that is encountered is scrutinized as it appears. The after-the-fact method of scanning manually is often too late. You are looking for infections after they have damaged your system. The better alternative is to be proactive and catch them before they settle in. My security app inquires whether or not I’d like to visit a website it deems unsafe. I usually follow its lead. When asked if I’d like to continue on to suspect-site.com, I just say no. If you get an all-inclusive program, find one that incorporates varying methods of detection of malware. Some use whitelists or blacklists, while other use heuristics. This method is often better at finding new or unknown types of infections that may have similar signatures of known programs with malicious code. There is a yet a different type of protection in programs such as Deep Freeze and Returnil. Systems that have these installed remain free of infection, but there are drawbacks. Each time the computer is rebooted, it goes back to its default settings, rendering it impossible to be infected — and difficult to save anything. There are back doors built in, but as I mentioned, they could be tricky to use. Another alternative is to use a program that utilizes a sandbox. This method isolates anything that may be hazardous to your system to a certain area of your hard drive. Like a sandbox on a playground, it is contained. If you want to experiment with a new, unknown application, your system remains secure with it safe in the sandbox. Sandboxie is offered in both free and paid versions with the former just about as good as the latter. You’ll get a nag screen after a month with free version (ignore it) and the paid version offers multiple sandboxes to secure more than one open app. BufferZone is another similar app and along with Sandboxie, could be found at download.com. Read the editor’s, as well as users’ reviews of apps you may be interested in there. Whatever method of protection you choose be certain to use it properly. Install it, configure it, use it and keep it updated. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Beware Malware on Facebook

Computer Care: Beware of malware, other threats hiding in Facebook


By Arthur Glazer
arthur@glazerthepctech.com
POSTED: January 22, 2011 12:30 a.m.


Facebook may be a nice place to keep up with your friends online, but lately I've been wary of a couple of things concerning its security.

Have you noticed its availability to connect to other websites? All of a sudden I find the ubiquitous blue "F" icon wherever I go on the Internet.

Other web sites, forums and blogs are offering for you to use your Facebook credentials to log on to their sites. Sure, it's easier. You don't have to type in your e-mail address or make up yet another password, but is it safe? The short answer would be no.

They have since reversed the ruling, but Facebook officials recently said they were going to sell our names, addresses and phone numbers to their vendors. That would have meant whoever advertises on the site would be privy to your private information. Sure, under pressure, they quickly reversed it. But who knows what they will do next week or next month? I don't trust them.

Supposedly we would have ability to opt out, but it was up to us to find the link to disable that option.

I have since gone to my Facebook settings page and changed everything to make sure that only those I want to see my information will be able to. Go to yours by clicking on the "Account" link on the top right of the page and then click "Privacy Settings," then "Customize."

Also check your "Account Settings " at the same spot while you're there. Scrutinize the way your account is set up. Your privacy may depend on it.

Facebook is a business, bottom line and our information is a gold mine to them.

Not only is Facebook not to be trusted with our information, but it is also a huge source of malware.

The Internet security firm BitDefender, claims that social media sites are the largest source of malware online, especially on mobile devices. With Facebook being the most traveled social site, and more users logging on via cell phone, malware is spreading rapidly.

As a technician, most of my jobs in the past few months have been malware-related. As computer users and Internet traversers, you need to tread cautiously if you don't want to get infected.

Facebook is inundated with links and pop-ups to fake wallpapers and phony applications for the site. Some claim to allow you to see who has viewed your profile or who has "unfriended" you. Others offer nonexistent "dislike" buttons. These are nothing other than sources of malware.

Also beware of bogus surveys and links to FB apps such as Farmville giving away free add-ons to the games. By clicking on them, not only will you not get what you expect, but you may be giving away access to your sensitive information.

If apps such as those were available, Facebook would offer them to us.

Cybercriminals are financially motivated. They are there not only to send spam and spread malware, but also to steal your identities.

Sophos, another maker of online security products, says cybercriminals will be more prevalent in 2011 and that more threats should be expected on Windows 7 and iPad platforms.

They claim that over 50,000 Web pages hosting various forms of malware are discovered daily — every day!

The most common ones and the one I see most often are fake anti-virus or anti-malware programs. What they are in reality is nothing other than sources of malware. Click on them and you open up your computer for them to access or just spread the infection throughout your system and to those in your address book.

Beware of pop-ups from programs not installed that warn you of infections. If you didn't run a scan with an app, it can't advise you, plain and simple.

Sophos offers a free social media toolkit for your social security, but you do need to register with them to get it. Find it here. There is some helpful information in it.

Be careful what you click on and think twice before you do. Even an e-mail saying someone has commented on a photo of yours or tagged you in one of theirs may be bogus. Also beware of e-mails claiming that someone has posted something on your wall. Find them on FB instead of going there from that e-mail. They may not be legitimate.

Even on the Facebook site, remain vigilant. Once you click that "Allow" button you could be opening up the floodgates. Any requests for permission should be denied.

Be aware of links that take you to pages where you see an "Allow" button to access your profile. If you have apps installed that you don't trust, hit the "Remove" button next to them, to be sure.

Facebook is a virtual street in the virtual city of Internet. It can be a dark alley if you allow it.

As far as allowing it to be your universal Internet log-on, I wouldn't.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly. Arthur welcomes your computer questions and ideas for future columns.

Rid Your System of Malware

Computer Care: Keep an eye out for malware, spyware

By Arthur Glazer
arthur@glazerthepctech.com

UPDATED May 28, 2010 11:29 p.m.

Have you ever tried to check your e-mail and found you couldn’t connect? Or maybe you clicked on an icon and nothing happened?

Perhaps your browser’s home page suddenly changed. Ever had your e-mail recipients tell you they got 20 of the same e-mail you sent once?

It’s malware. I have taken out more forms of malware infections from clients’ computers lately than viruses. The problem is, most computer users either ignore the warning signs or don’t know what they are.

Just like with a car, a PC requires regular maintenance, and checking for malware is part of it. There are free programs that will eradicate it; some suites incorporate a malware remover or you can buy dedicated utilities that will do the job.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m an advocate of download.com. It’s a good place to start when looking for a program, free or otherwise. All the programs I mention here are available there for download.

Some of the anti-virus suites on the market now that also have malware tools are AVG, Avira, Avast and Kaspersky. All of these have trail versions so you can test-drive them.

Some good free tools to have on your system are Super AntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, AdAware and Spybot. Keep in mind that many of the companies that sell utilities also have free versions of their product. The biggest difference is they lack any live support. They may also lack some bells and whistles the paid versions have. But they are better than not having anything installed.

The biggest mistake I see people do on their computers is to click on a button or link that suddenly appears out of nowhere. When you get an e-mail from someone you don’t know and it has a link, leave it alone. Just because it may say, “About the money I owe you,” in the subject line doesn’t mean you should click on it. It’s a scam. Delete that message.

Likewise, if you get a pop-up saying your system has 682 registry errors and you don’t have a registry utility installed, do not click on it. Windows will never advise you about these errors. Often, once you get those pop-ups, it’s too late. You are already infected.

If no matter what you click on, you get more pop-ups, then it’s time to buy a “real” program or call a technician to fix it.

In itself, having a lot of pop-ups is a way of knowing you have malware in the form of spy- or adware on your system.

One reason I like Firefox over Internet Explorer, is because it blocks pop-ups.

Aside from malware, what I call POJ can clog your system. That Plain Old Junk is the garbage files in your Recycle Bin, the temp files created by Windows, the history cache left by your browsers, the installers you once downloaded and more. If you get enough of these junk files, it will bring your system to its knees, causing it to slow down.

A good free utility to assist with that task is Advanced System Care. It will keep your registry tidy, optimizing your settings while keeping your system junk-free.

Another good source for free programs and utilities is giveawayoftheday.com. Sign up for their e-mails and wait for something that you can use. You have 24 hours to download and install each program. It will automatically be activated if you install it on time.

About programs like anti-virus and — malware: go to the scheduler and the update parts of the programs to make sure they are set properly. Set the update to automatic and schedule scans at a time when the computer is on, but not being used. Like with defrag, it is hard to use your computer when a scan is running.

Let your programs update as often as they want to and run scans on a regular basis. Check for viruses at least three times a week; the same for malware. Run a program like AVS weekly and defrag your hard drive once a month. Set up your system to put itself to sleep after a certain period of inactivity. Your hard drive will last longer if it’s not on 24/7 needlessly.

Use System Restore to create restore points that you could revert to, should something go wrong.

If you get an error message, especially on a blue screen (BSOD, the “Blue Screen of Death”), Google the exact message to find out what the problem is and take it from there. Use your computer to fix your computer. It’s a wonderful tool.

When you download programs, stay away from version 1.0 or 1.03. Let them work out the kinks and wait for at least Version 2.0.

Whatever you do, don’t ignore the problems. They will not go away. They will not fix themselves. They may go dormant for a while, but they’ll be back.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly. Arthur welcomes your computer questions and ideas for future columns.

Computer Malware

Computer Care: Protect your computer from malware

By Arthur Glazer
arthur@glazerthepctech.com

POSTED Dec. 12, 2008 5 a.m.

The Internet is a virtual dark alley. Unscrupulous dealers lurk in the shadows; you’re never sure who you can trust. In this cyber-city, potential infections lay in wait under each hot link and e-mail attachment, ready to corrupt your system with malware.

Malware is the all-inclusive term for malicious software that is in abundance on the Internet.

The computer virus, perhaps the most infamous, is a program that spreads within a computer or from one computer to another without the users’ knowledge or consent. Damage from a virus can be as little as a pop-up or as destructive as wiping your hard drive. It can degrade your system by corrupting it and robbing it of its resources.

Not only can a virus change or delete data, it can bring your computer to a crawl by using memory, disk space and bandwidth.

Many viruses come disguised as other programs and will try to trick you into either replicating it or initiating the spread of personal information.

In the case of the current XP 2008 Virus, a pop-up warns of infected programs and eminent danger. It appears to originate from Windows, with the same format and color schemes as the operating system.

The only thing though is that Windows doesn’t warn of viruses. That is not its job. Your antivirus program would do that. But the program preys on your fears, hoping you would click on it to "fix" what supposedly ails it. In reality, you would be spreading the virus with a click of the mouse. The best thing you could do is to get, keep updated and use a good antivirus utility.

A bot is a specific type of virus that runs automated tasks across the Internet. It mostly initiates click-fraud, harvesting personal information as user names and passwords. A worm is specific form of virus that runs itself. It doesn’t need a host to cling to in order to replicate itself across the Internet.

Spyware is a program you get unknowingly by installing certain shareware applications. A free download is tempting, but everything has its cost. Even though you may not have to pay for that program, its author is paid by a marketing company to include code in it to spy on you. Big brother is watching.

What it can do is track your browsing habits and report back to the mother ship. Spyware collects data with the purpose of informing advertisers what you’re likely to purchase. Ever wonder why, for example, after you browse some car sites, you start getting spam from auto companies or car dealers?

Adware is software sponsored by advertisements. These free programs have ads within them, either promoting a higher-end product for sale or others of that company’s products. Sometimes it will even take you to their web site. Others may hijack your homepage, replacing it with their own. All of this will slow down your system, again due it being robbed of its resources.

A Trojan horse is an Internet version of the same old thing. In this case, don’t trust spammers bearing gifts. The Trojan is a program masquerading as another, clandestinely hiding in its host until it’s ready to strike.

Phishing is not done from a pier, but there is bait involved. You are being baited by a bogus e-mail into thinking it is something it is not.

The phishing scam will have a link in a disguised e-mail asking you to provide personal information. It appears legitimate, as if from your bank, eBay or a company you may have done business with. It will ask you to click on a link and update your information, usually including your user name, password and credit card information. The link will take you to the scammer’s site, not your bank’s.

The best way to spot these frauds is by the generic greeting. They will say, "Dear customer, " or "Greetings." Your bank will not only not contact you by e-mail for something like this; they will call you by your name. The phishers will not. So don’t get caught.

Cookies can be good or bad. Some programs use them to track you, others to identify you. When you join a Web site and need to log in with a user name and password, a cookie is formed. This way when you return to that site, you’re greeted with, "Welcome back, Bob," because it knows who you are. It saves you the trouble of logging in each time.

But if you want to delete the tracking cookies, get a program like the free Ccleaner (www.ccleaner.com) that allows you to pick and choose which cookies to keep. Really, the best defense is to judiciously choose which e-mails to open and what sites to visit.

That said, I agree with Murphy: What can go wrong, will. Back up everything. Viruses happen.

Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly. Arthur welcomes your computer questions and ideas for future columns.